A genuinely lifelike bear — not the round, cartoonish teddy you'll find on most glass ornaments — mouth-blown and hand-painted with real attention to anatomy and detail.
This piece carries the telltale Whitehurst cap, marked "West Germany." Whitehurst Imports, founded in 1947 by Olga and Morris Whitehurst, is the oldest continual importer of European glass ornaments in the US; Olga, born in Lithuania, was among the first postwar importers to seek out the continent's glass-blowing families directly. The interior is coated in silver nitrate for that signature reflective shine, then lacquered and hand-decorated. This realistic style of bear is genuinely uncommon — most figural bears lean toward the cute and rounded rather than true-to-life.
A wonderful addition to a tree or collection, and we currently have a few in stock if you'd like to gather more than one — they look striking grouped together.
Material: Mouth-blown glass, metal cap
Maker: Whitehurst Imports, made in West Germany
Vintage: 1970s–1980s
Dimensions: approx. 2.25" long, including cap
Condition: Excellent vintage condition; note the small size
